Deadly California mudslides

Montecito, Calif.

Emergency personnel carry a woman rescued from a collapsed house after a mudslide in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Hundreds of rescue workers from across the state searched the ruins of homes in the Santa Barbara County town for survivors. At least 20 people were confirmed dead, with another 4 listed as missing. Twenty-eight people were injured.

Credit: Kenneth Song/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A damaged house is surrounded by large boulders and debris following mudslides due to heavy rains in Montecito, California, in this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, January 10, 2018.

Officials estimate that 59 homes were destroyed, and another 446 were damaged by the mudslide.

Credit: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

An aerial photo shows Highway 101 inundated with mud due to heavy rains in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

The Santa Barbara County wildfires last month had largely spared the town, but by burning away vegetation, the fires left the door open for heavy rains to bring forth mudslides.

Credit: Rafael Maldonado/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A semi-tractor trailer sits stuck in mud and flood waters on the highway after mudslides in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Credit: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Boulders block a road after a mudslide in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Credit: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A kitchen in a home on Glen Oaks Road damaged by mudslides in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Kenneth Song/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Parts of a damaged car are entangled in debris after mudslides in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Credit: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A grader moves mud from a road following a mudslide on January 10, 2018 in Montecito, California. Seventeen people have died and hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed after massive mudslides crashed through Montecito early Tuesday morning.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

Military vehicles arrive to assist evacuation operations at an area damaged by mudslides in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Credit: Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A car sits parked in the garage of a home that was damaged by a mudslide on January 10, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

An aerial photo shows two vehicles submerged in the surf amidst debris from a mudslide due to heavy rains in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Rafael Maldonado/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Emergency personnel carry a man covered in mud following a mudslide in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Credit: Kenneth Song/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Montecito firefighters walk on a road damaged by mudslides in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

"A lot of the street signs are gone, the roads are impassable. It all has to be done on foot," Deputy Dan Page, chief of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department rescue team, told the Associated Press.

Credit: Kenneth Song/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Emergency personnel evacuate local residents and their dogs through flooded waters after a mudslide in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

"We've gotten multiple reports of rescuers falling through manholes that were covered with mud, swimming pools that were covered up with mud," L.A. County fire battalion chief Anthony Buzzerio told the AP. "The mud is acting like a candy shell on ice cream. It's crusty on top but soft underneath, so we're having to be very careful."

Credit: Kenneth Song/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A section of the Union Pacific Railroad is blocked by mudflow and debris after a mudslide in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Credit: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Family members inspect the inside of a home covered in mud following the mudslides in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Abandoned cars are seen stuck in flooded water on the freeway after a mudslide in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.

Credit: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A home on Glen Oaks Road damaged by mudslides in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Kenneth Song/Santa Barbara News-Press via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A resident attempts to cross a road damaged by a mudslide on January 10, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

A brand new car sits on top of boulders in the driveway of a home that was destroyed by a mudslide on January 11, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

An urban search and rescue team searches a home that was destroyed by a mudslide on January 11, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

Mudflow and damage from mudslides are pictured in this aerial photo taken from a Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Fire Copter over Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Matt Udkow/Santa Barbara County FD via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

Mudflow and damage from mudslides are pictured in this aerial photo taken from a Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Fire Copter over Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Matt Udkow/Santa Barbara County FD via REUTERS

Montecito, Calif.

A luxury sports car is covered in mud and debris caused by a massive mudflow in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

People dig through mud as they look for salvageable items in a the home of a family member that was destroyed by a mudslide on January 11, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

Los Angeles County firefighters dig through mud after a cadaver dog alerted on a pile of debris from a mudslide on January 11, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

Mud fills a home that was destroyed by a mudslide on January 11, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

A building uprooted by a massive mudslide is lodged in a tree in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

An older man is helped as he tries to enter his mud-damaged home, January 10, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

A bookshelf is spotted inside the remains of a home destroyed by a mudslide on January 11, 2018 in Montecito, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Montecito, Calif.

The wall of a home is punched through with mud and debris caused by a massive mudflow in Montecito, California, January 10, 2018.

Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Santa Barbara, Calif.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation prisoners exit a shower tent used by rescue workers after a mudslide in Santa Barbara, California, January 11, 2018.